Welcome to Ko Lipe Thailand

Posted by Stucker on April 27th, 2021

Once a serene tropical paradise, Ko Lipe is now a poster child for untamed development on Thailand's islands. Blessed with two beautiful wide white-sand beaches separated by jungle-covered hills and close to protected coral reefs, the centre of Ko Lipe has been transformed into an ever-expanding maze of hotels, restaurants, cafes, travel agencies and shops. The biggest losers have been the 700-strong community of chow lair (sea gypsies, also spelt chao leh), whose ancestors were gifted Lipe as a home by King Rama V in 1909, but who sold it in the 1970s.

1. Go hiking

This beautiful island paradise is a great place for some light to medium hiking. The forest/seascape combination is beautiful, and there is lots of wildlife to observe. The hike to Cha Doa cliff is one of the best.

2. Hit the bars

In a place like this, it’s hard to anything more than lie in a hammock, take daily naps, and drag your feet into a local bar. Everyone is so laid-back though, so take your time. Jack’s Jungle Bar and Karma Bar are the places to be. There are plenty of bars to visit. You won’t go thirsty!

3. Take a Batik course

The Lipe Resort offers a unique course in Batik painting. Batik is a cloth which uses a particular wax-resistant dying technique. Research has shown that this method dates back to the 4th century in Egypt. It is really neat to learn and a fun way to spend some time. You can take a class at the Lipe Art Garden for 1,500 BHT ( USD).

4. Eat your heart out

There are lots of delicious little places all over the island. PeeWee Bakery, Flour Power, and Pancake Lady are really popular breakfast spots. Banana Leaf is a great dinner spot; the drink prices are super cheap, and on some nights, they play movies projected onto a screen.

5. Check out the Buddhist temple

In the center of the island, lies the tiny Hantaly Buddhist temple. It is located on a hill in the jungle on the road from Sunrise Beach to Sunset Beach. It is small- not like some of the grand and gleaming gold temples, you might find in other parts of Thailand. A few monks live here, along with a bunch of dogs and cats. There is a donation box, which helps keep up the temple as well as take care of the animals.

6. Go kayaking

You can rent sea kayaks from some of the dive shops. It will take a couple of hours to kayak around the island. Play it smart and ask locals about the water conditions before heading out. Many of the resorts also offer kayaks to take out. You can get around the entire island in about 3 hours, or kayak to Ko Adang in less than an hour. One-hour rentals are from 200 THB (.35 USD); daily rentals are from 400 THB ( USD).

7. Spend time fishing

If you’re an avid fisher, you can arrange for fishing trips along Ko Lipe. If you are in Tarutao National Park, fishing is prohibited, so make sure you find a guide that takes you to where fishing is permitted. There is great deep-sea fishing not too far from Ko Lipe.

8. Go sailing

Whether you’re a beginner or experienced sailor, the island can cater to your needs. Sign up for a sailing course, or simply enjoy a day trip out around the islands. There are many options available for getting out on the water.

9. Island hop

Ko Lipe is a great destination for your first or last stop in Thailand, due to its proximity to many other smaller islands. You can take a boat to Pak Bara, Phuket, Phi Phi Island, and even Malaysia. There are several ferry and speedboat options to reach any of them.

10. Stroll down the Walking Street

The Walking Street is the center of town, and where you can find lots of restaurants, or grab a massage. It also has a large selection of shops to check out. Everything here is fairly cheap, and you can find everything from a sumptuous meal to a quick bite อาคีราสปีดโบ๊ท at a street stall vendor.

o Lipe Travel Costs

Hostel prices – Unfortunately, there aren’t many hostels to choose from on Ko Lipe. Most people tend to stay in bungalows, but there are some good places, like Ko Lipe Backpackers Hostel. Beds in dorms cost between 400-600 THB (.70-19 USD). Private hostel rooms aren’t cheap here, costing around 947 THB ( USD) per night.

There is a campground (Lipe Camping Zone) with tents and basic rooms on the island if you’d like to sleep in nature. A two-bed tent starts from 400 THB (.70 USD).

Budget hotel prices – You can find cheap, basic bungalows that sleep two for around 850 THB ( USD) per night. For a nicer room with air-conditioning, expect to pay 1,000 THB ( USD) per night. Rooms at larger hotels start at around 1,350 THB ( USD) per night and usually include free WiFi and air-conditioning.

There is Airbnb, but the selection ranges widely. You can get a private room for around 630 THB ( USD) and a full apartment (usually a bungalow) for about 788 THB ( USD).